Student-run blood drive draws a robust crowd

American Red Cross collected blood from about 80 donors last week at Talbert Middle School's first-ever blood drive – and the first one put together by a student.

Twelve-year-old Sean Weiss organized the event in memory of his best friend, Zach Zeissner, who died of bone cancer in June.

"I'm just really happy so many people came to donate blood, and now many cancer patients can have a normal day," Weiss said toward the end of the six-hour event.

Weiss was motivated to organize the blood drive after seeing the effect blood transfusions had on Zach, who could go outside and play for a few days after receiving one, said his mother, Nicola Weiss.

Sean held fundraisers, while his friend was sick and after he died, with a restaurant, a jewelry store and Children's Hospital of Orange County. He was honored for that work by the Huntington Union Council last month.

Two big Red Cross trucks parked outside Talbert to take 100 appointments from teachers, parents and community members.

"He did pretty much all of it," his mother said. That included approaching Talbert Principal Cara Robinson, contacting the Red Cross and contributors to his past events and advertising it with the community.

Robinson remembered how the "soft-spoken" student approached her about ways he could affect the community and honor his friend.

"He came in very reserved and had a quiet conversation with me saying, 'I'd like to do something to help other people. How can I do that?'" she said.

This was the last benefit Sean had planned after a year of them, something he reflected on with his mother before bed the night before the drive.

"He goes, 'Tomorrow's the big day and then everything's done. What am I going to do next?'" his mother said, adding that philanthropy "is just in his blood."